Frame structure



J. SYLVAN FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 27. 1958 Dec. 29, 1959 M E M 4 a 4 m m i w i KLV? l m H ,w w m WMM., ,N a r. M w M 4/ 2 w 6 ,m ml w l. u@ WL O M 2 1 www a l 0 L 2 a l* m United States Patent C) FRAME STRUCTURE Joseph Sylvan, Birmingham, Mich. Application January 27, 1958, Serial No. 711,426

3 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) This invention relates to an improved frame structure of the character used as a door frame and particularly a metal door frame.

An object is to provide a frame structure of the character specied which might be adapted for use also as a window frame structure wherein the structural parts, i.e., the top and bottom cross members and the upright jamb members, are formed of metal and secured together at their ends to form a generally rectangular, substantial, rigid frame.

Heretofore door frames have been formed of metal elements secured together at their ends to form a generally rectangular frame. Metal frames of this character have been formed of hollow elements generally rectangular in cross section and the ends of the sill and header members have been secured to the side frame members by suitable angular corner pieces. The top and bottom cross members and the side frame members have also been secured together in the manner shown in my door frame Patent No. 2,642,966, dated January 23, 1953.

An object of this invention is to provide a frame structure of the character described which is so formed that its corners are substantial and rigid so as to provide a strong and rugged frame which will take the banging that a door frame has to take in use.

Another object is to provide a frame of the character described wherein the fastening means which are employed to secure the ends of the cross pieces and side frame members together are normally concealed.

Still another object is the provision of a door frame fabricated as set forth wherein certain of the structure which serves to provide a strong, rugged frame also serves the further purpose of embodying a portion of the structure which provides the runway or guide for slidable sash carried by the frame.

A meritorious feature is the provision of a frame structure of the character described wherein the side rail members and the header and sill members are hollow and generally rectangular in cross section and the inner face of each of these members is provided with a flange which extends linearly of such face and projects inwardly of the frame substantially normal to the innerface. The end of the header member, for example, directly abuts the inner face of the side rail and the top and bottom walls of the hollow header are notched to receive the ange of the side rail member and the flanges of the cooperating members are secured directly together.

Another object is the provision of a frame structure of the character herein described wherein the header and/or sill members may be provided with channelshaped caps grippingly engaged therewith and extending therealong and adjustable up and down with respect to the frame to adapt the frame to wall openings which vary somewhat in dimension.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious features of the invention will more fully appear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawing, wherein:

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Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper portion of a door frame embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3--2lj of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a fragment of an upper corner showing the header element separated from the cooperating side rail element.

It has heretofore been a problem to provide a frame, particularly a door frame, wherein the top and bottom cross rails and the upright side rails are secured together sufliciently rigidly to provide a strong, rugged, rectangular frame structure. Such rail sections are kept small for the sake of appearance and cost and it is also desirable to have then of light weight. For this reason it has been diicult to rigidify the corners suciently to meet the demands of use. In my improved door frame structure, the two upright side rails are indicated by the numberals 10 and 12. The top cross rail or header is identified by the numeral 14. It is understood that there would be a complementary cross rail at the bottom, which is not shown in the drawing, but the construction and connection of such bottom cross rail with the side rails would be similar to the construction and connection of the header rail 14 with the side rails 10 and 12 herein described.

These elements or rails are illustrated as hollow eX- trusions generally rectangular in cross section as shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. An adjustable cap section 16 is shown as grippingly received over the header 14 in Figs. l, 2, and 3. This is for the purpose of readily adapting the frame to meet slight variations in door frame openings.

This door frame structure may be adapted to receive a screen and/or glass sash 18 shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2.

These side rail elements 1t) and 12 are provided on their inner faces with linearly extending flanges 20 which are an integralpart of the rail and project inwardly of the inner face substantially normal thereto as shown. The top rail 14 is shown as having. its inner face provided with a linearly` extending flange 22. This ange 22 projects inwardly normal to the inner face of the top rail and extends linearly thereof. The bottom rail, which is shown in the drawing, would be formed similarly to the top rail and would have a similar inwardly extending flange. The top face of the top rail 14 is also provided with a linearlyA extending ange identified as 24. This flange 24 projects outwardly from the top face substantially normal thereto and extends linearly thereof as shown.

The outer and inner faces of the top rail 14 are formed on their opposed surfaces with linearly extending flanges 26 and 28 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The outer and inner faces of the top rail 14 are also notched or cut away as at 30 and 32 as illustrated in Fig. 4, The flange 22 formed on the inner face of the top rail 14 is provided at its outer margin with a laterally projecting ledge 34 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. One side face of the top rail 14 is extended beyond the inner face of such top rail as at 36 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

, When the top rail 14 is assembled to the side rails 10 and/or 12 (and it is understood that both ends of the top rail are notched as shown in Fig. 4), the ange 20 of the side rails is received within such notches 30 and 32. The ange 2@ of the side rails is secured by suitable securing means such as rivets 38, screws, bolts, or the like to the flanges 22 and 24 of the top rail 14, all as shown in Fig. 2. It is understood that both ends of the top rail would be similarly secured to the side rails. It is also understood that both ends of the bottom rail would be similarly secured to the bottom ends of the side rails.

It will be noted that the ledges 26 and 28, which extend inwardly of the top rails at the notches, lie at against the ange 20 of the side rails to form positive abutment therewith. This increases the rigidity of the connection of the frame structure at the corners. It will also be noted that the top rail is secured both above and below its top and bottom faces to the flanges of the side rails. It will also be observed that the fastening means, such as the rivets 38, are normally concealed. The rivets which extend through the top ange 24 are concealed by the cap member 16. The rivets which extend through the ange 22 are located within the header channel except as to one head of such rivet.

It will be observed that the extension 36 of the face of one side of the top rail forms with the flange 22 a header channel. y This header channel is adapted to receive a slidable sash. This sash may be a screen sash or a glass sash. The sash assembly indicated as 18 is held securely at the top when it is received within this header channel due to the fact that the flange 22 has the ledge 34 extending along its lower margin and adapted to engage the sash header.

What I claim is:

i l. In a frame of the character described having two cooperating frame elements secured together to form a right-angled corner, each element being in the form of a tube having a top wall, a bottom wall, and opposed side walls and having its linear inner face, which constitutes an inner face of the frame of which the element is a part, provided with a linearly extending flange projecting substantially normal to said inner face and inwardly of the frame, an end of one and the rst element abutting directly against and substantially normal to the inner face of the other and second element, said end of the rst element having its top and bottom walls provided with linearly extending slot-like parallel notches receiving the flange projecting inwardly from the inner face of the second element, said first element provided with a flange extending linearly of its top face and projecting outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto and substantially within the plane of the flange which projects from its inner and bottom face, each of said two flanges of the first element projecting from its wall along a margin of the slot-like notch formed in said wall said flange of the second element being received within said end notches of the first element and overlapping the two anges of the rst element and being secured to each of the two flanges of the rst element forming a corner structure for the frame.

2. In a frame of the character described having two cooperating frame elements secured together to forma right-angled corner, each such element being of tubular construction, one and the first element having'an end abutted against the inner linear face of the other and second element substantially normal thereto, said abutted end provided with notches extending inwardly linearly of the top and bottom walls of the element, said second element provided with a flange projecting away from the inner linear face of the element substantially normal thereto and extending linearly thereof and received within said notches in the end of the irst element, said rst element provided at its notched end with a ange portion projecting away from the top wall and a ange portion 4 projecting away fromv the bottom wall of the element,said iange portions being parallel and being disposed substantially normal to said top and bottom walls and each extending linearly along and adjacent to corresponding margins of the notches in said top and bottom walls and overlapping said ange of the second element, said ange of the second element secured thereto above and below the top and bottom Walls of the first element to the two flanges of the rst element, said first element further characterized in that it is provided with opposed complementary ledges extending inwardly of the tubular element from those margins of the notches in its top and bottom walls other than the margins along which its flange portions extend, said ledges abutting said ange of the second element.

3. In a frame of the character described having two cooperating frame elements secured together at their ends ,to form a right-angled corner, each element being in the form of a tube generally rectangular in cross section and having its linear inner face, which constitutes an inner face of the frame of which the element is a part, pro vided with a linearly extending flange projecting substantially normal to.said inner face and interiorly of the frame, an end of one and the first element abutting directly against and substantially normal to the inner face of the other and second element, said first element provided with a second ange extending linearly of its top face and projecting outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto and substantially within the plane of the ange which projects from its inner and bottom face, said abutting end of the first clement having its top and bottom side walls provided with parallel notches extending linearly of said walls for a distance along and adjacent to the anges projecting away from said top and bottom side walls, said top and bottom side walls being provided with ledges projecting interiorly of the tubular element and extending linearly along the edges of the notches opposite to the edges along which said flanges extend, said flange of the second element being received within the end notches of the iirst element and overlapping the two flanges of the lirst element, said two anges of the iirst element'being secured to the flange of the second element at the points of overlapping thereof, said rst element having a second flange projecting down: wardly from its bottom Wall substantiallyl within the plane of a side face of the rst element and forming with the first-mentioned ange of such element which projects downwardly from its bottom wall a header channel extending linearly along said bottom wall, a cap section received overthe top Wall of the rst element and the adjacent end of the second element grippingly engaged with the side walls Vof both elements Where it overlaps the same, said first mentioned ange of said first element having a marginal ledge extending linearly of said flange and disposed normal thereto and projecting toward but terminating spaced from said'second ange of the bottom wall of the first element which is disposed within the plane of a side face of the lirst element.

References Citedvin the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,416,659L Wolf Feb. 25, 1947 2,671,539 Kiefer Mar. 9, 1954 2,701,396 Perkins et al. Feb. 8, 1955 

